Method, system and apparatus using multiple feedbacks for uplink closed-loop beamforming

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus, and system for transmitting and controlling uplink diversity signals in a mobile communication device. While in a soft handoff situation, a mobile communications device may receive a phase feedback signal from a non-serving base station. The mobile device may calculate a modified phase parameter based on the phase feedback signal from the non-serving base station in order to minimize interference with the non-serving base station, for example, by calculating a modified value of a phase difference in a direction opposite to the direction desired by the non-serving base station. In some embodiments of the invention, the mobile device may determine whether to calculate the modified phase parameter in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the phase feedback signal of the non-serving base station based on a comparison of power feedback signals received from the non-serving and serving base stations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13,371,248, now allowed, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/441,736, entitled “USING SINGLE AND MULTIPLEFEEDBACKS FOR UPLINK CLOSED-LOOP BEAMFORMING IN SHO SITUATIONS” filedFeb. 11, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of mobile wirelesscommunications and more specifically to controlling a value of atransmit diversity parameter in a mobile communication device based onfeedback from a plurality of base stations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A transmit diversity mobile device may have multiple antenna elements toeach transmit a signal, such that the signals combine at a base station,for example, the signals being typically being sent over the samefrequency. The signals sent on the respective antennas may differ by atransmit diversity parameter, e.g., a phase difference or a power ratio.The transmit diversity parameter may be modified to perform beamformingso as to optimize reception quality, e.g., minimize signal loss, at thebase station. Such determination of the transmit diversity parametervalue may be made by the base station based on prior mobile devicediversity signals and communicated expressly to the mobile device, i.e.,“closed loop” feedback mode, or may be made by the mobile device basedon an analysis of signal quality, e.g., based on power control feedbacksignals received from the base station, i.e., “open loop” mode.

A mobile device may contemporaneously receive feedback signals frommultiple base stations, for example, when the mobile device is withinrange of a plurality of base stations. This is typically referred to asa soft handoff situation. The mobile device is typically programmed toobey the feedback signals of the serving base station, which istypically the base station sending data to the mobile device. However,in a soft handoff situation, obeying feedback signals from the servingbase station may cause the mobile device to interfere with non-servingbase stations which may be located nearby.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus, and system forcontrolling uplink transmit diversity signals in a mobile communicationdevice, in which the mobile device may transmit a first diversity signalusing a first value of a phase parameter, receive from a non-servingbase station a feedback signal based on the first diversity signal,calculate a modified value of the phase parameter based at least in parton the feedback signal received from the non-serving base station, themodified value modifying the first value of the phase parameter in adirection opposite to a direction indicated by the feedback signalreceived from the non-serving base station, and transmit a modifieddiversity signal using the modified value of the phase parameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile transmit diversity systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is flowchart of a method for closed-loop transmission, accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control method for closed-loop transmissionbased on power feedback from a non-serving base station, according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control method for closed-loop transmission,based on a comparison of power feedback from serving and non-servingbase stations, according to an embodiment of the invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard,the terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein may include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. The terms “plurality” or “aplurality” may be used throughout the specification to describe two ormore components, devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like.Unless explicitly stated, the method embodiments described herein arenot constrained to a particular order or sequence. Additionally, some ofthe described method embodiments or elements thereof can occur or beperformed simultaneously, at the same point in time, or concurrently.

The present invention may be applicable in any communication networkbetween a mobile device and a second communication device, including butnot limited to a base station. Networks may utilize communicationprotocols and technologies to provide the communication sessions.Examples of communication protocols and technologies include those setby the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)802.xx standards, International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T)standards, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)standards, Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards, or otherstandards.

Communication devices in a network may use any suitable multiple accesstechnology, for example, a code division multiple access (CDMA)technology. According to one embodiment, the network may operateaccording to a CDMA 2000 telecommunications technology that uses asingle CDMA channel. As an example, a CDMA 2000 high rate data packettechnology, such as the Evolution Data Optimized (EvDO) technology maybe used.

The network may comprise any suitable communication network. Acommunication network may comprise all or a portion of a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN), a public or private data network, a local areanetwork (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network(WAN), a global computer network such as the Internet, a wirelessnetwork, a local, regional, or global communication network, anenterprise intranet, other suitable communication link, or anycombination of the preceding.

A component of a network, for example, a mobile communication device ormobile user equipment device (mobile device), may include logic, aninterface, memory, other component, or any suitable combination of thepreceding. “Logic” may refer to hardware, software, other logic, or anysuitable combination of the preceding. Certain logic may manage theoperation of a device, and may comprise, for example, a processor.“Interface” may refer to logic of a device operable to receive input forthe device, send output from the device, perform suitable processing ofthe input or output or both, or any combination of the preceding, andmay comprise one or more ports, conversion software, or both. “Memory”may refer to logic operable to store and facilitate retrieval ofinformation, and may comprise a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read OnlyMemory (ROM), a magnetic drive, a disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD) drive,a Digital Video Disk (DVD) drive, a removable media storage, any othersuitable data storage medium, or a combination of any of the preceding.

The communication network may include one or more mobile or modifyingcommunication devices and one or more other communication devices, forexample base stations that communicate via a wireless link. A mobilecommunication device unit may comprise any device operable tocommunicate with a base station, for example, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a mobile handset, a laptopcomputer, or any other device suitable for communicating signals to andfrom a base station. A subscriber unit may support, for example, SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP), Internet Protocol (IP), or any other suitablecommunication protocol.

A base station may provide a mobile communication device access to acommunication network that allows the subscriber unit to communicatewith other networks or devices. A base station typically includes a basetransceiver station and a base station controller. The base transceiverstation communicates signals to and from one or more subscriber units.The base station controller manages the operation of the basetransceiver station.

According to embodiments of the invention, the mobile communicationdevice may include two or more antenna elements, where each antennaelement is operable to receive, transmit, or both receive and transmit asignal. Multiple antenna elements may provide for a separation processknown as spatial filtering, which may enhance spectral efficiency,allowing for more users to be served simultaneously over a givenfrequency band. The two signals may propagate along different paths andmay reach the receiving communication device or base station withdifferent phases that constructively or destructively interfere. Two ormore signals that constructively interfere may exhibit higher diversitygain, or higher relative performance than if the sum of the two signalswere transmitted. Two or more signals that destructively interfere mayexhibit lower diversity gain, or lower relative performance than if thesum of the two signals were transmitted.

A diversity signal may include two or more signals transmittedcontemporaneously on the two or more antenna elements. Diversity signalsmay be transmitted using a diversity parameter. A diversity parametermay be a parameter or value by which the transmissions on any twoantennas differ, for example a difference in transmission phase on thetwo antennas, or a ratio of transmission power on the two antennas. Itwill be understood that although examples are provided in the presentapplication pertaining to phase difference between two antennas, theinvention is applicable using the same principles to varying anytransmit diversity parameter. Although the embodiments described in thepresent application are described as using two antennas, it will berecognized that the present invention is equally applicable to transmitdiversity systems and devices having more than two antennas.

As described more fully below, according to embodiments of the presentinvention, the mobile communication device may include a processor and atransmit/receive module that calculate and produce one or more signalsfor transmission over at least first and second antennas.

The value of a transmit diversity parameter may be determined based on anumber of feedback schemes, including “open-loop” feedback, in which themobile device calculates the value based on signal quality feedbacksignals sent by the base station, which may not necessarily be dedicatedto transmit diversity, or “closed-loop” feedback, in which the mobiledevice calculates the value based on a phase correction or modificationfeedback signal sent by the base station, e.g., an explicit instructionfrom the base station to adjust or modify the value of the transmitdiversity parameter in a particular direction and/or by a particularamount.

According to embodiments of the invention, modifying a diversity signalmay refer to modifying a signal feature or a diversity parameter. Forexample, a signal may be transmitted by the two antennas using amodified signal feature, or a different value of a transmit diversityparameter than a previous value. Relative phase may refer to the phasedifference between the phase of a first signal of a first transmitantenna element and the phase of a second signal of a second transmitantenna element. Relative power may refer to the ratio between the powerof a first signal of a first transmit antenna element and the power of asecond signal of a second transmit antenna element, which ratio may bedefined on a linear or logarithmic scale. According to embodiments ofthe invention, modifying a signal may refer to adjusting, for example, anominal value of a phase feedback parameter so that two signals have adifferent relative phase than before signal modifications. In anotherexample, nominal value of a power feedback parameter may be changed ormodified.

The quality of one or more recent uplink signals from the mobile devicemay depend on the changing geometry or position of the mobile devicewith respect to the base station and through varying propagationconditions. Accordingly, in a closed-loop feedback scheme, a basestation may send to a mobile device a transmit diversity feedbacksignal, e.g., a phase feedback signal, instructing the mobile device tomodify or set its value of the transmit diversity parameter. Forexample, an instruction may include a phase feedback parameter,commanding a mobile device to modify the diversity signal's relativephase difference. A base station may expressly instruct the mobiledevice how to modify the phase difference so as to improve reception,based on the quality of past or recent uplink signals from the mobiledevice. The transmit diversity feedback signal may be the desired value,or a differential value relative to the current value, and may be sentas the actual value, or as a code from a codebook. The mobile device mayuse the base station's instructions to determine a modified phaseparameter.

In some embodiments of the invention, a base station may send a powerfeedback signal, e.g., a reverse link power control signal, commandingthe mobile device to increase its transmission power (“power up”) ordecrease its transmission power (“power down”). In a typical operation,the base station may command a mobile device to power down so as tolimit the transmitted power to be no higher than necessary, or power upto increase the transmitted power to overcome fading. The base stationmay explicitly send the mobile device power feedback signals based onthe quality of recent signals sent from the mobile device. If the basestation detects high fading or lossy propagation, as may happen if themobile device is far from a base station, the base station may send apower feedback signal to the mobile device, commanding a power up.Conversely, if the mobile device is within close range of a base stationor mid range but at a low data rate, the base station may send a powerfeedback signal to the mobile device commanding a power down.

As described above, in a soft handoff situation, a mobile device maycontemporaneously receive feedback signals, e.g., power control signalsor transmit diversity feedback signals, from multiple base stations, forexample, when the transmitter is a mobile device within range of aplurality of base stations. It will be understood in the context of thepresent application, that the determination made by the mobiletransmitter that it is in a soft handoff situation is merely shorthandfor a situation in which the device is within range of receivingmeaningful feedback from more than one base station. The mobile deviceneed not change its serving base station in a soft handoff situation. Itis possible within the scope of the present invention that a transmittermay determine that it is in a soft handoff situation and proceedaccordingly even when service is not actually being handed off from onebase station to another, for example, when the mobile transmitter isstationary and equidistant (power-wise) from two base stations, in whichcase service need not be handed off, but the device may operate in softhandoff mode. For example, a soft handoff algorithm may include ahysteresis component in order to avoid excessive handoffs. In such asystem, even though handoff is not actually performed, i.e., the servingbase station is not changed, the presence of feedback signals from aplurality of base stations may be used for beamforming in connectionwith the present invention.

During soft handoff, the communication network may consider a particularbase station within a plurality of base stations to be a serving basestation, e.g., the serving base station provides the mobile device withdownlink data. The mobile device may make this determination of whichbase station is the serving base station, for example, based on receivedinstructions from the base station. The mobile device may be in uplinkand/or downlink communication with the serving base station. It will beunderstood that uplink communication refers to information sent by themobile device toward the base station (e.g., uploads) and downlinkcommunication may refer to information sent by the base station towardthe mobile device (e.g., downloads). A communication network may selecta serving base station for a mobile device due to, for example, itsproximity to a base station or due to the available bandwidth or signalstrength of a base station, or the consideration of other factors.

In some embodiments of the invention, during soft handover, a mobiledevice may be in communication with a serving base station, and yet, anearby non-serving base station may send feedback to the mobile device.In fact, in some soft handover situations, the serving base station maybe further than the non-serving base station, causing the nearbynon-serving base station to send power down commands to the mobiledevice, implying that the mobile device is interfering with thenon-serving base station. The mobile device may be required to decreasepower, but this may affect performance with respect to the mobiledevice's communication with the serving base station.

In some embodiments of the invention, a non-serving base station mayprovide closed-loop feedback to the mobile device by sending a transmitdiversity feedback signal, e.g., a phase feedback signal, to the mobiledevice. As discussed above, such a phase feedback signal may include avalue of a phase parameter. According to embodiments of the invention,feedback information from the non-serving base station may be used tominimize interference with the non-serving base station. For example,according to embodiments of the invention, the mobile device may usebeamforming to cause the transmit diversity signals to destructivelyinterfere at the non-serving base station, i.e., steer a “null” in thefrequency domain toward the non-serving base station. As describedbelow, according to embodiments of the invention, the mobile device maytransmit a diversity signal with a modified value of a phase parameterin a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the feedbacksignal from the non-serving base station.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile transmit diversity system 100according to an embodiment of the invention. A mobile device 102 may bein uplink communication with a serving base station 104. As depicted,mobile device 102 may be in a soft handoff situation, i.e., in avicinity of two base stations, 104 and 106, where base station 106 is anon-serving base station. In the example depicted, the distance 114between mobile device 102 and serving base station 104 may be greaterthan distance 116 between mobile device 102 and non-serving base station106. Since non-serving base station 106 may detect mobile device 102 inclose range, non-serving base station may send a power down command tomobile device 102 and possibly a phase feedback signal to increasediversity gain at the non-serving base station 106. Mobile device 102may continue to be in uplink and/or downlink communication with servingbase station 104 even though it may be more distant. The communicationnetwork may choose serving base station 104 because, for example,non-serving base station 106 may be overloaded with serving other mobilecommunication devices in the area, or for any other reasons. Accordingto embodiments of the invention, mobile device 102 may calculate a valueof a transmit diversity parameter for transmitting a diversity signal tothe serving base station 104 based at least in part on the phasefeedback received from non-serving base station 106, so as to perform“null” beamforming or steering a “null” toward the non-serving basestation, thereby decreasing interference. In some embodiments of theinvention, mobile device 102 may calculate a modified value of the phaseparameter in an opposite direction to the direction indicated by thephase feedback signal from the non-serving base station 106.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 according to an embodiment ofthe invention. In soft handoff mode, a mobile device may be in uplinkcommunication with a serving base station. At block 202, the mobiledevice may transmit a diversity signal using a first value of a phaseparameter. A non-serving base station may send a power feedback signalto the mobile device, indicating that the mobile device is in softhandoff situation. If the power feedback from the non-serving basestation is a power down command, and the serving base station sends apower up command to the mobile device, the mobile device may assume thatthe non-serving base station is receiving the signal at a strongerlevel, e.g., lower fading loss, than the serving base station, perhapsbecause of greater physical proximity to the non-serving base station,or for any other reason.

At block 204, the mobile device may receive a phase feedback signal froma non-serving base station, based on the quality of the diversitysignal. The phase feedback signal may include or contain a value for aphase parameter, which may be calculated by the non-serving base stationto increase diversity gain at the non-serving base station if the mobiledevice transmitted a diversity signal with the desired value of thephase parameter.

At block 206, the mobile device may calculate a modified value of thephase parameter. The modified value of the phase parameter may becalculated in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by thephase feedback signal from the non-serving base station. In anembodiment of the invention, the modified value may differ from thevalue of the phase parameter requested by the base station by 180°. Forexample, if the non-serving base station sends a feedback signalindicating a desired value of a phase parameter of +90°, the mobiledevice may calculate a modified value of the phase parameter as −90°. Inanother embodiment of the invention, calculating the modified value ofthe phase parameter may include modifying the first phase value byadding a phase step in a direction opposite to that of the desired valueof the phase feedback signal received from the non-serving base station.According to an embodiment of the invention, the phase step may beconstant. In another embodiment of the invention, the magnitude of thephase step may be determined as a fraction of the value of a phaseparameter indicated by the non-serving base station's phase feedbacksignal. For example, a mobile device may transmit a diversity signalwith a first phase parameter of 0°. If the non-serving base stationsends a feedback signal indicating a phase parameter of +90°, the mobiledevice may use 1/10 of |+90°| as the step magnitude, and modify thevalue of the phase difference by 9° in the opposite direction, i.e.,−9°. Other fractions may be used, for example, in some embodiments, thefraction may be greater, e.g., ½, ⅓, ¼, or ⅕ of the phase indicated bythe phase feedback signal, or less, e.g., 1/15 or 1/20 of the phaseindicted by the phase feedback signal. Other methods may be used forcalculating a modified value of a phase parameter.

It will be understood that the modified value of the phase parameter maybe based on the phase feedback from the non-serving base station as wellas other feedback parameters. For example, as described below in FIG. 3,in some embodiments of the invention, where both the serving andnon-serving base stations provide closed loop feedback, the mobiledevice may calculate the modified value of the phase difference based onphase feedback provided by both the serving and non-serving basestations, so as to increase constructive interference at the servingbase station while increasing destructive interference at thenon-serving base station.

At block 208, the mobile device may transmit a modified diversity signalusing the modified value of the phase parameter, calculated in block206.

The method may repeat blocks 204-208. Thus, for example, the modifiedvalue of the phase parameter in 208 may become the initial or firstvalue of a phase parameter that is modified again once the null steeringmethod reaches step 208 in a subsequent cycle. Continuing the previousexample, a first value of a phase parameter may now be −9°, and themobile device will have transmitted a diversity signal with a −9° phasedifference (202). The mobile device may receive another phase feedbacksignal from the non-serving base station (204) based on the diversitysignal transmitted in 202. The phase feedback signal may again indicatea phase parameter of +90°. The mobile device may calculate anothermodified phase parameter in the opposite direction of +90°, for example,by taking a step size of 1/10 of |+90°|, resulting in the phase stepmagnitude of 9° in the opposite direction of +90°, i.e., an additionalphase difference step of −9°, resulting in a total phase difference of−18°. Similarly, in a third iteration, if the phase feedback signal fromthe non-serving base station is again +90°, the modified phase parametermay yield −27°, etc.

In other further iterations, if the non-serving phase feedback signalchanges amount or direction, the modified phase parameter may yield adifferent phase step in a different direction. Continuing the aboveexample, if on a fourth iteration, the non-serving base station may senda phase feedback signal of 180°, in which case, the phase step may becalculated as 18°. Regarding the direction, the direction between thecurrent phase difference, −27°, toward the desired phase difference of180° is in the negative direction (i.e., toward) −90°. Therefore,modifying the phase parameter in the opposite direction would result ina modified phase parameter of −9°.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control method 300 for null steering a mobilecommunication device, according to embodiments of the invention. Asdiscussed above, null steering according to embodiments of the inventionmay be particularly useful when a non-serving base station is nearer tothe mobile device than the serving base station. An indication ofrelative distance between a mobile device and serving and non-servingbase stations may be the power feedback signals sent by serving andnon-serving base stations. The mobile device may initially transmit adiversity signal with an initial or first value of a phase parameter.

At block 302, the mobile device may receive phase feedback from servingand non-serving base stations. These phase feedback signals may be basedon the diversity signal initially transmitted by the mobile device.

At block 304, the mobile device may receive power feedback from aserving base station and at least one non-serving base station. It willbe understood that the order of blocks 302 and 304 in the method isinterchangeable.

At block 306, the mobile device may determine whether to steer a nulltoward the non-serving base station. This decision may be based, forexample, on whether the mobile device receives a power down command fromthe non-serving base station. In addition, if the power feedback signalfrom the serving base station is a power up, the mobile device may inferthat it is nearer to the non-serving base station than the serving basestation. In some embodiments of the invention, the mobile device mayperform null steering toward the non-serving base station based onreceiving a power down from the non-serving base station, regardless ofthe power feedback signal from the serving base station.

At block 308, if the power feedback received from the non-serving basestation is not a power down command, i.e., it is a power up command, themobile device may determine that steering a null is not necessary, andinstead calculate a modified phase parameter based on the phase feedbackof the serving base station, without regard to the phase feedback sentby the non-serving base station.

At block 310, upon receiving a power down command from the non-servingbase station, the mobile device may calculate a modified value of thephase parameter based at least on the phase feedback sent by thenon-serving base station, e.g., in a direction opposite to a directionindicated by the phase feedback signal from the non-serving basestation. The calculation of the modified value of the phase parametermay be as described herein, for example, in connection with FIG. 2.Additionally or alternatively, the mobile device may calculate themodified value on phase feedback provided by both the serving andnon-serving base stations, so as to simultaneously increase constructiveinterference at the serving base station while increasing destructiveinterference at the non-serving base station.

At block 312, the mobile device may transmit an updated diversity signalwith the modified value of the phase parameter calculated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 400 according to an embodiment of theinvention. Power feedback signals received from a base station may varydepending on different variables in the transmission environment,including but not limited to geographic distance from the base station,data rates, and available bandwidths. A change in any of these variablesmay cause the base station to send different power feedback signals. Amobile device may monitor power feedback from a plurality of basestations and use the comparison to determine whether to steer a nulltoward a non-serving base station using any of the methods describedabove, or to operate in a customary beamforming mode.

According to some embodiments of the invention, at block 402, a mobiledevice may receive phase feedback signals from serving and non-servingbase stations. At block 404, the mobile device may receive and monitor aplurality of power feedback signals from non-serving and serving basestations.

At block 406, the mobile device may compare the power feedback signalsfrom the non-serving base station to the power feedback signals receivedfrom the serving base station, for example, comparing the respectivepower down instructions received. If the mobile device determines thatmore power down commands were received from the non-serving base stationthan power down commands received from the serving base station, atblock 410, the mobile device may perform null-steering or nullbeamforming, for example, as described in any of the above embodimentsof the invention. If not, at block 408, the mobile device may performcustomary beamforming, for example, by complying with the phase feedbacksignals sent by the serving base station.

It will be understood that in some embodiments of the invention, thecomparison at block 406 need not be a 1:1 comparison, but may useanother ratio. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, themobile device may compare the power down commands from the non-servingbase station and serving base station by calculating a threshold ratioor proportion at which the mobile device will determine to enternull-steering mode. A high ratio or percentage of non-serving power downcommands to serving power down commands may indicate a greaterlikelihood that null steering will be effective and that the mobiledevice may have entered into a stable environment where the non-servingbase station is more likely to stay closer to the mobile device than theserving base station. For example, the threshold ratio may be two powerdown commands from non-serving base station to one power down commandfrom the serving base station. Thus, for example, in a given period oftime, e.g., 250 ms, 500 ms, 750 ms, or 1 sec, if the mobile devicereceives twice as many power down commands from the non-serving basestation as power down commands from the serving base station, the mobiledevice may determine to enter null-steering mode. If the mobile devicereceives fewer than the threshold power down commands from thenon-serving base station, the mobile device may determine to comply withthe serving base station's phase feedback signals.

At block 412, the mobile device may transmit a modified diversity signalusing the calculated modified value of the phase parameter.

In some embodiments of the invention, the mobile device may continue tomonitor and compare the power down commands received by non-serving andserving base stations during the process of steering nulls toward thenon-serving base station. For example, after each transmission of amodified diversity signal with a modified phase parameter, or after aperiod of time transmitting using the modified phase parameter, blocks402-412 may be repeated. The mobile device may receive further phasefeedback signals, power feedback signals or other diversity feedbackfrom the serving and non-serving base stations. Prior to calculating afurther modified diversity signal, the mobile device's processor mayagain compare the number of power down commands received from the basestations.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the calculation steps of themodified phase parameter may change as the ratio between serving andnon-serving power down commands decreases. For example, if the ratiobetween non-serving and serving power down commands reaches or is near1:1, the mobile device may alternate between complying with the servingbase station's phase feedback signals and calculating a modified phaseparameter in the opposite direction specified by the non-serving basestation. In another example, calculating a modified phase parameter mayinvolve an initially large phase step away from the non-serving basestation's instructions. Upon the next iterations and monitoring of powerdown commands, calculating a modified phase parameter may involvesmaller subsequent phase steps. The same principle may apply tocalculating a modified phase parameter based on phase feedback signalsfrom the serving base station (block 410). One iteration may fullycomply with the serving base station's feedback, and later iterationsmay take more gradual steps toward the serving base station'sinstructions. In some embodiments, the invention may utilize step-track,window, or half-rate perturbation algorithms to reach an optimalmodified phase parameter.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is,therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling a mobile communicationdevice comprising: transmitting a diversity signal using a phaseparameter; receiving from a non-serving base station a phase feedbacksignal based on the diversity signal; calculating a modified value ofthe phase parameter in a direction opposite to a direction indicated bysaid phase feedback signal; and transmitting a modified diversity signalusing the modified value of the phase parameter.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising: receiving from the non-serving base station apower feedback signal based on the diversity signal; and determiningbased on the power feedback signal whether or not to perform said stepof calculating the modified value modifying the first value in thedirection opposite to the direction indicated by said phase feedbacksignal.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving from aserving base station a feedback signal based on the diversity signal,wherein the mobile communication device is in uplink communication withthe serving base station; and when the determination is made not toperform said step of calculating the modified value modifying the firstvalue in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by said phasefeedback signal, then calculating a modified value of the phaseparameter based on the feedback signal received from the serving basestation.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the feedback signal receivedfrom the serving base station is a phase feedback signal; and whereincalculating the modified value based on the feedback signal receivedfrom the serving base station comprises calculating the modified valueof the phase parameter, said modified value modifying the first value ofthe phase parameter in the direction indicated by said phase feedbacksignal received from the serving base station.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein calculating a modified value of the phase parameter comprises:multiplying a fraction with the value of a phase parameter indicated bythe phase feedback signal, resulting in a phase step value; and addingthe phase step value to the first value of the phase parameter, in adirection opposite to a direction indicated by said phase feedbacksignal.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from theserving base station a plurality of serving power feedback signals basedon the diversity signal; and receiving from the non-serving base stationa plurality of non-serving power feedback signals based on the diversitysignal; comparing said plurality of non-serving power feedback signalsto said plurality of serving power feedback signals; and determiningbased on said comparison whether or not to perform said step ofcalculating the modified value modifying the first value in thedirection opposite to the direction indicated by said phase feedbacksignal.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether or not toperform said step of calculating the modified value in the directionopposite to the direction indicated by said phase feedback signalcomprises determining to perform said step of calculating the modifiedvalue in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by said phasefeedback signal if the number of power down commands received from saidnon-serving base station is greater than the number of power downcommands received from said serving base station.
 8. The method of claim7, further comprising if the number of power down commands received fromsaid non-serving base station is less than the number of power downcommands received from said serving base station, then modifying thefirst value based on a feedback signal received from the serving basestation.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether or not toperform said step of calculating the modified value in the directionopposite to the direction indicated by said phase feedback signalcomprises determining to perform said step of calculating the modifiedvalue in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by said phasefeedback signal if the number of power down commands received from saidnon-serving base station is greater than the number of power downcommands received from said serving base station by a threshold ratio.10. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold ratio comprises aminimum ratio of 4:1.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein calculatingsaid modified value of the phase parameter comprises modifying the firstvalue of the phase parameter so as to differ by 180° from the phaseparameter value indicated by said phase feedback signal.
 12. A mobilecommunications apparatus comprising: a phase modulator to produce aphase difference between two signals transmitted on first and secondantenna, based on a first value; and a processor to receive a phasefeedback signal from a non-serving base station and calculate a modifiedvalue of the phase parameter, said modified value modifying the firstvalue of the phase parameter in a direction opposite to a directionindicated by said phase feedback signal, wherein said phase modulator isto further produce a modified phase difference between two signalstransmitted on first and second antenna, based on said modified value.13. The mobile communications apparatus of claim 12, wherein theprocessor is to: receive from the non-serving base station a powerfeedback signal based on the first diversity signal; and determine basedon the power feedback signal whether or not to perform said step ofcalculating the modified value modifying the first value in thedirection opposite to the direction indicated by said phase feedbacksignal.
 14. The mobile communications apparatus of claim 13, wherein theprocessor is to: receive from a serving base station a feedback signalbased on the first diversity signal, wherein the mobile communicationdevice is in uplink communication with the serving base station; andcalculate a modified value of the phase parameter based on the feedbacksignal received from the serving base station, when the determination ismade not to perform said step of calculating the modified valuemodifying the first value in the direction opposite to the directionindicated by said phase feedback signal.
 15. The mobile communicationsapparatus of claim 14: wherein the feedback signal received from theserving base station is a phase feedback signal; and wherein theprocessor is to modify the first value of the phase parameter in thedirection indicated by said phase feedback signal received from theserving base station.
 16. The mobile communications apparatus of claim12, wherein the processor is to calculate the modified value of thephase parameter by: multiplying a fraction with the first value of thephase parameter, resulting in a phase step value; and adding the phasestep value to the first value of the phase parameter, in a directionopposite to a direction indicated by said phase feedback signal.
 17. Themobile communications apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor isto: receive from the serving base station a plurality of serving powerfeedback signals based on the diversity signal; and receive from thenon-serving base station a plurality of non-serving power feedbacksignals based on the diversity signal; compare said plurality ofnon-serving power feedback signals to said plurality of serving powerfeedback signals; and determine based on said comparison whether or notto perform said step of calculating the modified value modifying thefirst value in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by saidphase feedback signal.
 18. A mobile transmit diversity system,comprising: a mobile communications device in uplink communication witha serving base station; and a non-serving base station in the vicinityof the mobile communications device; wherein: the mobile communicationsdevice receives transmit diversity feedback from the serving andnon-serving base stations, the transmit diversity feedback based ondiversity signals transmitted by the mobile communications device; themobile communications device calculates a phase parameter based on thetransmit diversity feedback from the serving and non-serving basestation; and the mobile communications device transmits a diversitysignal with said phase parameter.
 19. The mobile transmit diversitysystem of claim 18, wherein the transmit diversity feedback from theserving and non-serving base stations comprise power feedback signalsand phase feedback signals.
 20. The mobile transmit diversity system ofclaim 18, wherein the mobile communications device determines tocalculate a phase parameter in a direction opposite to a directionindicated by a phase feedback signal received from the non-serving basestation, by comparing power down commands received by the non-servingand serving base stations.
 21. A method of controlling a mobilecommunication device, comprising: receiving a phase feedback signal froma non-serving base station and a serving base station; receiving powerfeedback signals from the non-serving base station and the serving basestation; comparing the power feedback signals from the non-serving basestation with the power feedback signals from the serving base station,determining a number of power down commands received from thenon-serving base station and the number of power down commands receivedfrom the serving base station; calculating a modified value of the phaseparameter in a direction opposite to a direction indicated by the phasefeedback from the non-serving base station when the mobile devicedetermines more power down commands were received from the non-servingbase station than the serving base station and calculating a modifiedvalue of the phase parameter based on the phase feedback signal receivedform the serving base station when the mobile device determines morepower down commands were received from the serving base station than thenon-serving base station; and transmitting a modified diversity signalusing the modified value of the phase parameter.